Dolley, Nortje set up big EP win

POTCHEFSTROOM, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 03: Brad Dolley of Eastern Province celebrates with teammate during the Africa T20 Cup match between Northerns and Eastern Province at Senwes Park on September 03, 2017 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Brad Dolley and Anrich Nortje shared six wickets to give defending champions Eastern Province a chance of progressing to the Africa T20 Cup semi-finals with a seven-wicket demolition of eta Northerns in their final Pool B encounter at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

Both bowled with accuracy and precision to help bundle out their opponents for just 98, before David White’s unbeaten 50 (40 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) ensured the 2016 winners cruised to their target with six overs to spare.

The result gave EP five log points to move top of the table, but both North West and Gauteng have a chance of overhauling them when they meet later on Sunday.

However, the men from Port Elizabeth did at least ensure they will go down with a fight thanks mainly to the efforts of Dolley (3/17) and Nortje (3/14).

They had excellent support from Sisanda Magala (2/22) and Solo Nqweni (2/14), with only opener Jiveshan Pillay putting up any fight for Northerns. The South Africa Under-19 star was making his debut in the competition and was the top scorer for his side for a third successive match after making 26.

Rubin Hermann (18) and Corbin Bosch (12) were the only two others to reach double figures as the Pretoria side were shot out in 19.2 overs.

White and Eddie Moore (36) then plundered 92 for the first wicket to flatten Northerns as EP needed just 14 overs to complete a lop-sided win.